Teeth whitener

ABSTRACT

A three component system and method for whitening teeth comprising a pre-conditioning mouth rinse, a bleaching gel, and a polishing and pigmenting paste wherein each component is applied to the teeth independently and in sequential order.

This is a Continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No.582,899, filed Oct. 10, 1990, which is incorporated herein by reference.

This invention relates in general to teeth whitening dentrifices andmore particularly to a new system containing a plurality of substancesused in combination that is useful for whitening and polishing humanteeth.

For a variety of reasons it has become desirable for a person's teeth toappear bright or "white." Society places a high value on the "whiteness"of one's teeth. One whose teeth are white may enjoy more personalconfidence and satisfaction and may even enjoy greater socialacceptance. In many business situations, such as acting and televisionnewsreporting, a person's appearance is of the utmost importance insecuring employment and having "white" teeth is know to be an asset.

A tooth is comprised of an inner dentin layer and an outer hard enamellayer that is the protective layer of the tooth. The enamel layer of atooth is naturally an opaque white or slightly off-white color. It isthis enamel layer that can become stained or discolored. The enamellayer of a tooth is composed of hydroxyapatite mineral crystals thatcreate a somewhat porous surface. These hydroxyapatite crystals formmicroscopic hexagonal rods or prisms that make up the enamel surface. Asa result, the surface of the enamel layer presents microscopic spaces orpores between the prisms. It is believed that this porous nature of theenamel layer is what allows staining agents and discoloring substancesto permeate the enamel and discolor the tooth. These remainingsubstances can occupy the microscopic spaces and eventually alter thecolor of the tooth.

Many substances that a person confronts or comes in contact with on adaily basis can "stain" or reduce the "whiteness" of one's teeth. Inparticular, the foods, tobacco products and fluids that one consumestend to stain one's teeth. These products or substances tend toaccumulate on the enamel layer of the tooth and for a pellicle film overthe teeth. These staining and discoloring substances can then permeatethe enamel layer. This problem occurs gradually over many years, butimparts a noticeable discoloration of the enamel of one's teeth. So longas the discolored teeth are still healthy and do not pose any healthrisk or problem, a product or substance that would whiten the discoloredteeth would be advantageous.

It is also essential that a teeth whitening product that is to be usedat home or in private by the consumer be safe and easy to use. A productfor home use cannot utilize some of the compositions or products forwhitening teeth that are available for use by a trained dentalprofessional. For example, a 35% hydrogen peroxide bleaching agent isutilized by many dental practitioners to bleach severely discoloredteeth. Such a concentrated solution of hydrogen peroxide would beirritating and potentially dangerous for home use by the consumer.Products and substances that are presently available to whiten teethinclude a variety of different ingredients, but the primary activeingredient is an abrasive agent formulated into a gel or paste. Theseabrasive gel type products "polish" the enamel layer of the teeth towhich it is applied and give it a more lustrous sheen and partiallyscrub away materials that stain the tooth enamel. These abrasiveproducts are not able to perform all of the desired functions in a fullysatisfactory manner.

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide asystem for whitening teeth that is more effective in whitening teeth andsafer to use than existing products available to the consumer.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a system forwhitening teeth that includes a cleansing mouth rinse, a bleachingsubstance and a pigmenting agent as well as an abrading and polishingagent to more completely and more efficiently whiten teeth than knownproducts.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide acomplete system for whitening the enamel of human teeth that is safe forhome use and a method of use that can easily be performed by theconsumer without the assistance of a trained dental professional.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a system andmethod for whitening human teeth where the component parts of the systemare to be used in a sequential manner to cosmetically whiten a person'steeth.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a teethwhitening product that includes an effective quantity of a bleachingagent such as hydrogen peroxide in a concentration that can be safelyand comfortably used at home by the consumer.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a productfor whitening teeth that includes an effective quantity of hydrogenperoxide to bleach teeth in a manageable and convenient gel medium thatcan be applied with the use of an appropriate applicator.

It is an aim of the present invention to provide a product for whiteningteeth that includes a pigmenting substance that is of a small enoughparticle size to fit into the pores or spaces between the hydryxyapattecrystals or enamel prisms that make up the enamel layer.

It is another aim of the present invention to provide a teeth whiteningproduct that utilizes a pigmenting substance that imparts a whitepigment to the enamel layer of the tooth and that also functions as anabrasive substance to polish the teeth.

It is a further aim of the present invention to provide a system forwhitening teeth that can be safely and effectively be used on a dailybasis to prevent further discoloration of the user's teeth.

Other and further objects of the invention, together with the featuresof novelty appurtenant thereto, will appear in the course of thefollowing description of the invention.

The present invention is directed to an improved system and method forwhitening teeth that has three separately formulated components havingfour primary active ingredients to serve as a complete and effectiveteeth whitener. The system includes a conditioning mouth rinse, ableaching gel, and a polishing and pigmenting composition, wherein eachcomponent is applied independently and sequentially. In accordance withthe invention, the first component is a teeth cleansing mouth rinseformulated by preparing a dilute, aqueous solution of acetic acid incombination with flavor enhancers, a preservative, a surfactant andmixtures thereof. The second component of the system is a gel capable ofbleaching teeth enamel and is formulated as a combination of hydrogenperoxide, a gelling agent capable of maintaining the stability of thehydrogen peroxide over a period of time, a neutralizing agent, athickening agent and mixtures thereof. The third component of the teethwhitening system and method is a polishing cream or paste that includesa pigmenting agent. The polishing cream is formulated by combiningdeionized water, a carrier, an abrasive polishing agent, flavorenhancers, thickening agents, surfactants, a pigmenting agent andmixtures thereof. Alumina silicates are most useful as the abrasive andpolishing agent and most preferred are synthetic precipitated amorphousalumina silicates sold under the trademarks ZEO-49 or ZEODENT 113 by theJ. M. Huber Corp. of Harve de Grace, Md. The preferred carrier isglycerin and the most preferred pigmenting agent is titanium dioxide.

The flavor enhancers used can be any substance that imparts a flavor ofsweetness to the product by addition of a relatively small amount of thesubstance. Examples include saccharin, sodium saccharin, methylsalicylate, menthol crystals, mint flavoring agents, cinnamon flavoringagents and the like. The chemicals that impart such flavors are wellknown to those skilled in the art and are readily available. Anysuitable preservative can be utilized such as sodium benzoate or otherpreservatives known to one skilled in the art. Suitable surfactants areTween-20, which is a well known and recognized tradename forpolyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan Monolaurate, sodium dodecyl sulfate orsodium lauryl sulfate in amounts capable of improving the solubility anddispersal of the products added to the components.

The components of the present teeth whitening system are to be used in asequential fashion. The user first rinses his mouth and concomitantlyhis teeth with the conditioning mouth rinse of the invention. This isfollowed by applying the bleaching gel onto the teeth. This secondcomponent is applied onto the teeth for approximately 1-4 minutes andthen the teeth are rinsed with water. Finally, the polishing andpigmented cream is brushed onto the teeth. This component of the systemis brushed onto the teeth for about 1-3 minutes and left on the teeth aslong as possible, preferably overnight.

The bleaching gel and the polishing and pigmented cream mayalternatively be used alone or in combination with each other, as wellas in the overall whitening system.

In accordance with the invention, a three component teeth whiteningsystem is provided. Each component is formulated and packagedseparately. In formulating the components, pharmaceutical gradereagents, if available, should be used throughout and all necessarysafety and sterility procedures should be employed for a product thatwill be used in contact with human teeth and oral tissues.

The first component of the teeth whitening system is a conditioningmouth rinse. This mouth rinse is comprised generally of an aqueousdilution of acetic acid. The preferred concentration range of the aceticacid in the solution is between 1%-3% and is most preferably between0.5%-1.5% acetic acid. Normal white distilled or household vinegar canbe used to prepare the mouth rinse.

The mouth rinse may include a flavor enhancer such as sodium saccharineor any other sweetener such as aspartame, methyl salicylate or the like.Sodium saccharine can be added in a concentration range of between0.05%-0.5% to impart a sweet taste to the mouth rinse. The preferredamount of sodium saccharine has a 0.2% final concentration in the mouthrinse. Additional flavor enhancers so as to impart a particular flavorand/or aroma to the rinse can also be added. Particularly usefulflavorings are menthol, wintergreen, spearmint, cinnamon or otherappropriate and acceptable flavors. The chemical entities that createthese flavor substances should be added in an amount sufficient toimpart a flavor to the product. The most useful range of concentrationfor flavorings is between 0.02%-1% final concentration in the rinse.Different flavors may require different amounts to be added to create anoticeable flavor. In any event, a flavor enhancer should be arelatively small portion of the overall rinse.

It may also be necessary to include a preservative in the mouth rinseformulation to retard any bacterial growth or other potential diseasecausing agent to grow in the rinse. Any suitable preservative useful inthe food industry can be utilized. Especially useful is sodium benzoatein a concentration of between 0.2%-2% in the conditioning rinse. Themost preferred concentration of sodium benzoate in the oral conditioningrinse is 0.3%.

Another useful additive that may be added to the conditioning mouthrinse is a surfactant or other surface-active agent in a relativelysmall quantity to assist in the solubility and dispersal of the addedsubstances to the basic rinse. Particularly useful are Tween-20, whichis a well known and recognized tradename for polyoxyethylene (20)sorbitan monolaurate, sodium dodecyl sulfate, sodium lauryl sulfate andlike compositions.

In preparing the conditioning mouth rinse, deionized water is firstheated to about 80° C. and any preservative or sweetener is dissolvedtherein. The solution is then allowed to cool and an appropriate amountof 5% acetic acid is added to obtain the desired final concentration. Atthis point, a surfactant is added and any flavoring chemical orcomposition is likewise added. The resulting solution is stirred untilall of the substances are fully dissolved. The rinse is now ready forits use in cleansing and debriding the pellicle film that accumulates onthe enamel of teeth. The application of this rinse to a person's teethpre-conditions the enamel layer of the teeth to be more accessible tothe actions of the subsequent components of the whitening system.

The second component of the teeth whitening system of the presentinvention is a bleaching gel. The active ingredient in this bleachingcomponent is hydrogen peroxide. This component of the whitening systemuses a relatively low concentration of hydrogen peroxide in a gel form.A high concentration of hydrogen peroxide could not be used safely bythe typical consumer and therefor the useful range of hydrogen peroxidein the gel is between 1%-10% hydrogen (by weight). The most preferredrange is between 3%-6.5% and the most preferred concentration is 6% inthe gel. Hydrogen peroxide generally has a pH of between 3-6 and ispreferably maintained around 6. The hydrogen peroxide is prepared as agel to provide a safe and easy form in which it may be applied onto theuser's teeth. A liquid hydrogen peroxide formulation would be irritatingto the gums and gigival tissues and would therefore not be as useful asthe preferred easy to use gel form in accordance with the instantinvention.

A suitable gelling agent to form the bleaching gel of the whiteningsystem must be one that can maintain the stability of the hydrogenperoxide over a period of time. Hydrogen peroxide is known to beunstable in any form other than its aqueous form. The gelling agent hasa pH adjustability between 2 and 7 to ensure the stability of thehydrogen peroxide. Any gelling agent that has these properties and thatcan produce a viscous gel with water would be suitable for thisformulation.

A particularly useful gelling agent is a copolymer of acrylic acidcross-linked with polyallyl sucrose, as described in U.S. Pat. No.2,798,053, issued on Jul. 2, 1957 and assigned to B. F. Goodrich, Inc.Other suitable gelling agents are described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,639,574issued on Feb. 1, 1972 to Schmolka, British Patent No. 827,331 and U.S.Pat. No. 3,499,844 issued on Mar. 10, 1970 to Kibble, et al. Thesereferences generally describe gelling agents that produce stable gelswith hydrogen peroxide. These gels generally comprise polyoxyethylenepolypropylene block copolymers, organic polymer acids colloids includingpolyuronic acids, carboxypolymethylene compounds and polyester resinscontaining three carboxyl groups, such as partially hydrolyzedpolyacrylates or polymethacrylates and copolymers thereof.

The most preferred gelling agent is a water dispersible copolymer ofacrylic acid cross-linked with approximately 0.75% to approximately 1.5%polyallyl sucrose that is sold under the trademark CARBOPOL 934 by B. F.Goodrich. This gelling agent is neutralized with triethanolamine oranother suitable alkalizing agent as discussed in U.S. Pat. No.3,499,844 to achieve a pH of the final product around 3.5. In order toobtain the most useful gel for use in the present invention a sufficientamount of non-ionic cellulose or gum is added to the gel to improve thephysical stability of the gel. This is basically a thickening agent andhydroxyethylcellulose gum, hydroxypropylcellulose gum or carboxymethylcellulose work effectively and are preferred, although other likeproducts would have utility.

In preparation, the bleaching gel that is the second component of theteeth whitening system preferably comprises 6% by weight of hydrogenperoxide, 2% of CARBOPOL 934 (an acrylic acid copolymer cross-linkedwith polyallyl sucrose), 1% of triethanolamine, 1% by weight ofhydroxyethylcellulose, and the remainder is deionized water. Thisformulation is prepared by first combining an appropriate amount of a35% aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide with deionized water. Thismixture is slowly stirred and CARBOPOL 934 is gradually added. After thegelling agent has become thoroughly dispersed in the hydrogen peroxidesolution, the hydroxyethylcellulose is slowly added until it dissolves.Finally, 99% triethanolamine is diluted in a 1:1 ratio with deionizedwater and slowly added to the gelled solution to achieve a final pH ofapproximately 3.5. The resulting compound is clear, homogeneous, stableand viscous gel.

The bleaching gel can then be placed on an applicator such as a cottonswab and applied onto the teeth for 1-4 minutes. Alternatively, thebleaching gel may be applied directly to the teeth and allowed to remainin contact therewith for a like amount of time. The gel is then removedby rinsing with water.

The third component of the teeth whitening system is a polishing pastethat includes a white pigmenting agent. This compound is formulated intoa paste or cream that can be placed on a toothbrush and brushed onto theteeth. The polishing agent utilized in this compound is a dentalabrasive that can debride and physically scrub the external surface ofteeth. This scrubbing action removes filmy bacterial and plaque layersas well as some of the stains and discoloring pigments that are found onteeth that cause the undesired discoloration. These polishing agentsalso microabrade the tooth so as to polish the teeth to give the enamela more lustrous appearance and a higher optical sheen. Thismicroabrasion action enhances the scrubbed teeth's ability to reflectwhite light and thereby appear brighter.

The most useful type of debriding and polishing agent for use in thiscompound are alumina silicate particles. The preferred alumina silicatesare those synthetic precipitated alumina silicates that have an averageparticle size of between 1-100 microns, an oil absorption ofapproximately 25 cc-75 cc/100 g as determined by the Linseed Oil Rub-OutMethod, a surface area of between 100-300 square meters per gram ofmaterial as determined by the BET Method, and a sodium sulfateconcentration of less than 5%. The most preferred alumina silicateparticles for use in this invention are synthetic precipitated amorphousalumina silicas having an average particle size of approximately 9microns, an oil absorption of 90 cc/100 g, a surface area ofapproximately 250 square meters/g and a sodium sulfate concentration ofapproximately 1% by weight. More particularly, the synthetic aluminasilicas provided by the J. M. Huber Corp. of Harve de Grace, Md. underthe trademarks ZEO-49 or ZEODENT-113 have been employed with goodresults.

The pigmenting agent that is included in the formulation of thepolishing and pigmented cream or paste is titanium dioxide. Thispigmenting agent is particularly useful because of its brilliant opaquewhite color and its extremely small particle size. Other pigmentingagents with these qualities would be equally applicable and useful tothis invention. A further benefit of titanium dioxide as the pigmentingagent is its ability to also function as a polishing or abrading agentwhen it is being applied. This further enhances the polishing featuresof the complete compound. Titanium dioxide particles that are useful inthe present formulation have an approximate size of between 0.1-1.5microns and most preferably have a particle size between 0.1-0.2microns. A pigmenting agent having this approximate size allows thepigmenting agent to be absorbed by the enamel of the teeth and occupythe space between the hydroxyapatite crystals or prisms that make up theenamel layer of the teeth. Thus, this pigment competes with thesubstances that tend to stain or discolor teeth by filling the spacebetween the prisms with a white pigment instead of an undesired colorpigment. This has the ultimate effect of "staining" the teeth white byabsorption or masking of other discolorations.

The polishing and pigmented compound is prepared as a cream or paste,but could be prepared in gel form. The primary polishing agents, ZEO-49or ZEODENT-113, are most useful if they comprise between 1%-35% of thecompound and have a preferred concentration range of between 10%-30% anda most preferred range of between 15%-27%. A useful concentration rangefor the titanium dioxide is between 15%-25% with the preferred rangebeing between 20%-25% and the most preferred concentration beingapproximately 23%.

The remaining components that form this compound are a carrier,deionized water, a thickening agent, a surfactant, a preservative andflavor enhancers. A wetting agent such as TEXAPON VHC needles can alsobe included to assist in the dispersal and solubility of the titaniumdioxide and other inorganic compounds.

The carrier is preferably glycerin and deionized water, but othersuitable carriers can be utilized. When glycerin is used, a usefulconcentration range is between 20%-80% and preferably between 25%-50%.Deionized water typically makes up approximately 5%-40% of the compoundand most preferably approximately 15% of the compound.

The preferred thickening agent is a cellulose gum as previouslydescribed and is present in a concentration range of betweenapproximately 0.1%-2% final concentration in the compound. A most usefulthickener for use in this polishing and pigmenting cream is ZEOTHIXpowder from the J. M. Huber Co. Any surfactant may be utilized that issafe for contacting with human oral cavities and that assists in thedispersal and dissolution of the added compounds. Most useful are sodiumdodecyl sulfate, sodium lauryl sulfate, TWEEN-20 and TEXAPON VHC. Themost useful in formulating the polishing and pigmented cream is TEXAPONVHC. The surfactant is added to the formulation is a concentration rangeof between 0.001%-0.1%.

Flavor enhancers may also be added to the polishing and pigmented creamand are preferably added in a total concentration range of between0.1%-10%. Particularly useful flavor enhancers are sweeteners such assaccharin, sodium saccharin, sorbitol, methyl salicylate, aspartame andlike substances. Other substances that impart a particular flavor to thecream may also be employed such as menthol crystals, wintergreen,spearmint, mint, or cinnamon flavors, among others.

The polishing and pigmented cream is prepared by combining the desiredamount of deionized water, glycerin and a flavor enhancer, such asSorbitol in a 70% stock solution, in a clean container and allowed tostir for approximately 1 hour. The desired amounts of a surfactant suchas SDS, and other flavor enhancers such as methyl salicylate and mentholcrystals are then added and the resulting solution is further stirredfor 30 minutes. This solution is then stored and referred to as StockSolution A.

Stock Solution A is then slowly stirred and the desired amount oftitanium dioxide is added gradually thereto over the course ofapproximately 1 hour. The resulting suspension is stirred for anadditional 30 minutes and the polishing agent is then added gradually,but with vigorous mixing, to the solution over a period of approximately1 hour. This results in a slightly viscous solution and the thickeningagent is added and any additional polishing agents are added graduallyto the solution to obtain the desired viscosity.

In use, approximately 1-5 g of the polishing and pigmented cream isapplied to a toothbrush and brushed vigorously onto the teeth. Brushingis continued for 1-3 minutes and is occasioned by a brilliant whitelather that is generated by proper brushing and that should bemaintained for the entire brushing sequence. The cream should be allowedto remain on the teeth for as long as possible, preferably overnight.This cream further abrades the pellicle film on the enamel while alsopolishing the enamel to create a lustrous sheen on the teeth. Thepigment is absorbed into the enamel prisms and "stains" the enamel amore brilliant white and masks already present discolorations in and onthe enamel layer of the teeth. This part of the teeth whitening systemfollows the application of the two previous substances, but could alsobe used alone.

In accordance with the present invention, the complete teeth whiteningsystem, including the mouth rinse, bleaching gel and polishing andpigmented cream, are to be used on a daily basis with a noticeablewhitening of the user's teeth within a short period of time followingregular use. It is also envisioned that the bleaching gel and thepolishing and pigmented cream be used individually or in combinationwith each other, apart from their use in the complete teeth whiteningsystem.

The present invention is further illustrated by the following examples:

EXAMPLE 1

One formulation of the conditioning mouth rinse is prepared as follows:

To 63 parts deionized water, 30 parts of a 5% acetic acid solution isadded to obtain a final acetic acid concentration of 1.5%. This solutionis slowly mixed and a quantity sufficient to obtain 5 parts of aspartamein the solution is added. Menthol crystals are added in a quantitysufficient to obtain 0.5 parts menthol in the final solution and 0.3parts of sodium benzoate is also added to the solution. TWEEN-20 isadded to obtain 0.2 parts surfactant in the final solution and 1 partsodium benzoate is added to the final solution as a preservative. Thissolution is stirred until all additives are completely dissolved and aclear liquid results. This mouth rinse is packaged in an appropriate,clean container and is ready for use.

A sufficient quantity of the mouth rinse is placed in the user's mouthand is caused to come in contact with the user's teeth by normal methodsemployed in mouth rinses.

Use of this mouth rinse cleanses the teeth of some of the accumulatedpellicle film that builds up on human teeth and that commonly containsdiscoloring or stain causing substances.

EXAMPLE 2

One formulation of the bleaching gel of the present invention isprepared as follows:

In the final gel containing 100 parts of materials, 14.4 parts of a 35aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide is added to 83.025 parts ofdeionized water. This solution is slowly stirred and 1.75 parts ofCARBOPOL 934, a copolymer of acrylic acid cross-linked with 1% by weightof polyallyl sucrose having 5.8 allyl groups per molecule, is added.After the CARBOPOL 934 has dissolved in the solution, about 0.2 parts ofhydroxyethylcellulose is slowly added and dissolved. Triethanolamine isthen added to obtain a viscous gel that has a pH of around 3.5.

This bleaching compound is a viscous gel and is to be placed on anapplicator or cotton swab for applying the gel onto the teeth.Approximately 1-5 grams of the gel is to be applied to the applicatorand allowed to remain on the teeth for 3 minutes. This compound gentlybleaches the teeth enamel and removes some of the discoloring stains andpigments.

EXAMPLE 3

One formulation of the polishing and pigmented cream of the presentinvention is prepared as follows:

A sufficient quantity of a reagent referred to as stock solution A isfirst prepared. On a weight/volume basis, 300 grams of deionized wateris combined with 135 grams of a 70% aqueous solution of Sorbitol and 900grams of glycerin. This solution is mixed and stirred for 1 hour andthen 1.5 grams of sodium lauryl sulfate, 3.0 grams of sodium saccharine,7.0 grams of methyl salicylate and 2.8 grams of menthol flavor crystalsare added and stirred for an additional 30 minutes. The resulting clearliquid is stock solution A.

To a clean container, 208 grams of stock solution A is mixed with 100grams of titanium dioxide particles. This solution is stirred for 30minutes and 92 grams of ZEO-49 is added with vigorous mixing over 1hour. The resulting solution is slightly viscous and approximately 1.5grams of hydroxyethylcellulose and 1.5 grams of ZEOTHIX is also added toobtain the desired viscosity. The cream is then packaged in aappropriate container for use on a daily basis.

This cream is then placed on a toothbrush and is brushed and burnishedonto the user's teeth. Approximately 1-5 grams of the cream is placed onthe brush and is brushed on the teeth for 3 minutes. The brushing isoccasioned by a brilliant white lather that is maintained throughout thebrushing period. The cream is then rinsed away with water leaving theteeth with a bright, white appearance and a lustrous sheen after regularuse.

EXAMPLE 4

The preferred formulation of the three components is as follows:

    ______________________________________                                                         Quantity (%) (By Weight)                                     ______________________________________                                        Conditioning Mouth Rinse                                                      Deionized Water    97.87                                                      Sodium Saccharin   0.05                                                       Sodium Benzoate    0.30                                                       5% White Distilled Vinegar                                                                       1.50                                                       Tween 20           0.250                                                      Menthol Crystals   0.030                                                      Bleaching Gel                                                                 Deionized water    78.°6                                               Carbopol 934       2.00                                                       35% Hydrogen Peroxide                                                                            17.14                                                      Deionized Water    1.00                                                       Triethanolamine (99%)                                                                            1.00                                                       Polishing and Pigmenting Cream                                                Deionized Water    14.67                                                      Sodium Saccharine  0.10                                                       Sodium Benzoate    0.50                                                       Glycerin           29.00                                                      Caroxymethylcellulose-7MF                                                                        0.50                                                       Sorbitol (70% aqueous)                                                                           8.00                                                       Zeo-49             23.00                                                      Titanium Dioxide   23.00                                                      Texapon VHC needles                                                                              0.06                                                       Zeothix 265        0.80                                                       Methyl Salicylate  0.26                                                       Menthol Crystals   0.11                                                       ______________________________________                                    

Each component is prepared and used as described in Example 1-3.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention is one welladapted to attain all the ends and objects hereinabove set forthtogether with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherentto the invention.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are ofutility and may be employed without reference to other features andsubcombinations. This is contemplated and is within the scope of theclaims.

Since many possible embodiments may be made of the invention withoutdeparting from the scope of thereof, it is to be understood that allmatter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to beinterpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:
 1. A three componentsystem for whitening human teeth wherein each component is applied tothe teeth in a sequential manner, said three component systemcomprising:a first component comprising a conditioning mouth rinsecapable of cleansing the surface of said teeth; a second componentcomprising a viscous bleaching gel including an effective concentrationof hydrogen peroxide for bleaching said teeth, said hydrogen peroxidepresent in an amount ranging from 1 to 10% by weight of the total gel;and a third component comprising a viscous polishing compositionincluding an abrasive substance for polishing said teeth and apigmenting agent capable of imparting a white color to said teeth,whereby said conditioning rinse, said bleaching gel and said polishingcomposition are applied individually and seriatim to said teeth.
 2. Thesystem as set forth in claim 1 wherein said conditioning rinse comprisesa dilute aqueous solution of acetic acid.
 3. The system as set forth inclaim 2 wherein said acetic acid is present in said rinse at aconcentration of approximately 1.5 percent.
 4. The system as set forthin claim 1 wherein said conditioning rinse further includes substancesselected from the following: flavor enhancers, preservatives,surfactants and mixtures thereof.
 5. The system as set forth in claim 4wherein said flavor enhancers are selected from the group consisting ofsweeteners and flavoring chemicals, said sweeteners are selected fromthe group consisting of saccharin, sodium saccharin, methyl salicylate,sorbitol and aspartame, said flavoring chemicals are selected from thegroup consisting of chemicals imparting the flavor of menthol,spearmint, wintergreen and cinnamon, said preservatives selected fromthe group consisting of sodium benzoate, and said surfactants areselected from the group consisting of polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitanmonolaurate, sodium dodecyl sulfate, sodium lauryl sulfate and mixturesthereof.
 6. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said effectiveconcentration of said hydrogen peroxide in said gel is between 3 percentand 8 percent.
 7. The system as set forth in claim 6 wherein saidconcentration of said hydrogen peroxide is 6 percent.
 8. The system asset forth in claim 1 wherein said bleaching gel additionally comprises agelling agent, a thickening agent, and a neutralizing agent.
 9. Thesystem as set forth in claim 8 wherein said gelling agent is selectedfrom the group consisting of a copolymer of acrylic acid cross-linkedwith polyallyl sucrose, organic polymer acid colloids selected from thegroup consisting of polyuronic acids, carboxypolymethylene compounds,polyester resins containing three carboxyl groups, partially hydrolyzedpolyacrylates, polymethacrylates, polyoxyethylenes, polypropylenecopolymers and mixtures thereof.
 10. The system as set forth in claim 9wherein said gelling agent is a copolymer of acrylic acid cross-linkedwith approximately 0.75 percent to 1.5 percent polyallyl sucrose. 11.The system as set forth in claim 8 wherein said neutralizing agent isselected from the group consisting of sodium hydroxide, potassiumhydroxide and triethanolamine.
 12. The system as set forth in claim 8wherein said thickening agent comprises non-ionic cellulose gumsselected from the group consisting of hydroxyethyl cellulose,hydroxy-propyl cellulose and carboxymethyl cellulose.
 13. The system asset forth in claim 1 wherein said abrasive substance is alumina silicateparticles.
 14. The system as set forth in claim 13 wherein said aluminasilicate has a particle size between 5 and 15 microns.
 15. The system asset forth in claim 1 wherein said pigmenting agent is titanium dioxideparticles.
 16. The system as set forth in claim 15 wherein said titaniumdioxide has a particle size of approximately 0.1 to 0.2 microns.
 17. Thesystem as set forth in claim 1 wherein said viscous polishingcomposition additionally comprises substances selected from the groupconsisting of carriers, thickening agents, surfactants, preservatives,flavor enhancers and mixtures thereof.
 18. The system as set forth inclaim 17 wherein said carriers comprise glycerin and water, saidthickening agents comprise non-ionic cellulose gums selected from thegroup consisting of hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose andcarboxymethyl cellulose, said surfactants are selected from the groupconsisting of polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monolaurate, sodium dodecylsulfate, sodium lauryl sulfate and mixtures thereof, said preservativesselected from the group consisting of sodium benzoate, and said flavorenhancers are selected from the group consisting of sweeteners andflavoring chemicals, said sweeteners are selected from the groupconsisting of saccharin, sodium saccharin, methyl salicylate, sorbitoland aspartame, and said flavoring chemicals are selected from the groupconsisting of chemicals imparting the flavor of menthol, spearmint,wintergreen and cinnamon.